Jim Halsey Biography

Halsey has continued his passion for teaching by creating Starmaker360, an online seminar series for those wanting to succeed in the music industry. Based on his award winning music and entertainment business program, "How To Make It In The Music Business", Starmaker360 is filled with much needed information on the music business/song marketplace. Halsey, along with top recording artists and other music industry leaders explain the important functions of managers, agents, record companies, press and PR, producers, specialized music/entertainment attorneys, music publishers, promoters, and performing rights organizations that make up the "Star Team” and teach the vital components that help create a successful career in the business.

Halsey's expertise encompasses more than just successful talent development, artist management and booking. His business acumen and experience include broadcasting (he has owned several radio stations), owning and running a record label, banking (he has served on the Board of Directors of three banks), ranching, real estate operations, and investments. He is also a successful music publisher. Halsey's forte' is sales and marketing.

Halsey is currently serving or has served on the following Boards of Directors: The Country Music Association (CMA); The Academy of Country Music (ACM); National Academy of Arts and Sciences (Austin Chapter); Mercantile Bank and Trust, Tulsa; Citizens National Bank, Independence, KS; Farmers & Merchants Bank, Mound City, KS; Tulsa Philharmonic; Nashville Symphony Orchestra; Philbrook Art Museum, Tulsa; Thomas Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, the U.S. Committee for UNICEF, MEIEA, (Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Assoc.); The National Music Council; International Federation of Festival Organizations (FIDOF/UNESCO); Tulsa Ballet; the Business Circle For Arts Education in Oklahoma; Advisory Council MENC (Music Educators National Conference); Advisory Board Oklahoma Jazz Hall Of Fame; Will Rogers Memorial Foundation, Claremore, OK; Oklahoma Music Hall Of Fame, Muskogee, OK; Five Civilized Tribes Museum, Muskogee, OK; and the Advisory Board National Institute of Entertainment & Media Law (Southwest University School of Law) in Los Angeles, California.

Halsey is listed in the "Who's Who in the World," "Who's Who in America," "Who's Who in the Entertainment Business," "Who's Who in the Southwest," "Who's Who in Business and Finance," and the "International Directory of Distinguished Leadership."

Jim Halsey was elected in 1984 as President of FIDOF (International Federation of Festival Organizations). Upon completion of eight years of the presidency, he was elected President of Honour. This UNESCO organization has a membership of 360 major music festivals in 187 countries. Mr. Halsey brought a vision of global peace and harmony within the scope of the international festival arena.

Jim Halsey is co-creator of the long running Billboard Magazine Song Contest, and was co-sponsored by Sonicbids, Disc Makers, Epiphone, Digidesign, Elixir Strings, TAXI, Indie Band Manager and BluBlocker Sunglasses. This annual contest awarded cash and merchandise for the best new amateur songs in several categories of music: Pop, Rock, Country, Gospel, Latin, World, Jazz, and R&B/Rap. Halsey has recently launched a new venture in song evaluation, Starmaker Awards, aimed at providing songwriters professional feedback on their creations.

In May of 1992, Halsey was honored by Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, with the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, Honoris Causa. In June 1997 Jim Halsey received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA).

In 1998, Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating presented Impresario Jim Halsey with The Governor's Arts Award for Arts and Education for his Music and Entertainment Business Program at Oklahoma City University. Betty Price, Executive Director of The Oklahoma Arts Council assisted in the presentation.

In May of 1999 The Cherokee Honor Society presented Jim Halsey with their prestigious "Medal of Honor" during ceremonies at the Cherokee National Capitol in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. In 2000 he was inducted into The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and received the Kansas Impresario Award from the Kansas Federation of Music Clubs in 2005.
Jim Halsey and his wife, Minisa Crumbo, share an avid interest in the arts. Together, they have created an extensive collection of American Indian Art. Crumbo is recognized as one of the leading American Indian Artists. She has exhibited her works worldwide. She has also produced and directed a video biography on her father, the celebrated Indian artist Woody Crumbo.

Jim and his wife are also constant world travelers by virtue of their respective activities, concerts, lectures, seminars, exhibitions, and festivals around the globe. Unity is the enduring theme of Jim Halsey's contribution to the world through his life and work.